Dynamic contact behavior of a golf ball during an oblique impact

The oblique impact between a golf ball and a rigid steel target was studied using a high-speed video camera. Video images recorded before and after the impact were used to determine the inbound velocity v_i, rebound velocity v_r, inbound angle θ_i, rebound angle θ_r, and the coefficient of restitution e. The results showed that θ_r and e decreased as v_i increased. The maximum compression ratio η_c, contact time t_c, average angular velocity ω̄, and tangential velocity v̄, along the target were determined from images obtained during the impact. The images demonstrated that η_c increased with v_i while t_c decreased. In addition, ω̄ and v̄_t increased almost linearly as v_i increased. A rigid body model was used to estimate the final angular velocity ω* and tangential velocity v_t* at the end of the impact; these results were then compared with experimental data.